Objects in Mirror Aren't Always as They Appear

I'm a white person from the Chicago area. Chicago's well-known for having people from all over the world. At one point, there may have been more Polish people in Chicago than in Warsaw. Yet, it's one of the most stratified regions in the Country. This was by design. My last article reflected how 4-5 miles of public housing, including a food and opportunity desert, has been bordered by an Interstate.

While most cities have China Towns, Korea Towns, Ukrainian Villages, etc., these take on a different bend in Chicago. What's most striking is that some of the white ethnic communities APPEAR the least accepting of others. Unfortunately, that's where some well-known politicians were born and raised.

So, the benefits of growing up there include diversity of thought, faith, background, etc. Also, especially after the Great Fire and in combination with being in the Midwest, the unofficial slogan of the City is I WILL. That nothing can stop (most of) us. After-all, when too much sewage went into the river, emptying into the lake, they REVERSED the river's direction. (Although this didn't please those along the Mississippi.)

A detractor of living in Chicago, although it pales in comparison to the experiences of others and I didn't directly experience all of it, equal justice (access) under law doesn't always ring true to me. I've seen, heard, read, and rarely experienced contrary situations.

The public housing development is a slight example of that. Imagine being spoken to by an authority figure (officer, state benefit department worker, etc.) who immediately sees where you live. I doubt these folks are always treated how others are, or get told of all of the benefits and opportunities available to them. The latter is an indirect form of systemic or ingrained stratification.

When the City pursued the Olympics, the roads where it was to take place years in the future, were re-paved while residents living elsewhere bought quick-crete to fix potholes in their neighborhoods.

Although red-lining is supposedly illegal, there are still some suburbs where I probably wouldn't be shown a home to consider purchasing. Even if I did live there, I believe it would be extremely challenging. See, yes, I'm white. I'm also Jewish. For some reason, throughout history, it's always been in style to bash, question, 'save,' and 'educate' Jews. From near - Biblical times to the inquisition; the Crusades to the Holocaust; up through the 20th Century and today (this includes Members of Congress, BDS, and more non-profit organizations than I'd like to think about), Jews have been the 'problem' in need of a (final) solution. Again, it pales in comparison to the experience of others, though it is something I have to be prepared for on an ever more frequent basis. While I don't have to mention being Jewish, (why shouldn't I), I've found those that hate Jews or any other group have gotten 'quite good' at figuring out who we are.

Not so long ago, academics aside, I'd have a hard time attending Northwestern University. There have been other schools, museums, and fraternal organizations that have made it clear, to one degree or another, that we're not wanted.

What's my point? Between how I was raised, where I was raised, what I've experienced and heard that others' experienced, I've developed strong beliefs. I'd like to think I've developed compassion and empathy for others of a variety of backgrounds and situations. Like anyone else, I'm not one to back-down when those beliefs appear to be called into question, ignored, belittled, or referred to in a trite, superficial manner. So, being of a minority faith in the US, not being affluent, and not having an undying commitment to excessive or uber capitalism, I've had to hear others opinions, subtle proselytizing, and presumptions a majority of the time.

Often, when these comments or thoughts are expressed, its presumed there are no other right perspectives, verbiage, or theologies to consider or that are acceptable. Especially recently, I'm less willing to ignore, overlook, or pretend I haven't heard things that could've been said better.

I used to think that a person didn't have to be black to try to understand the injustices they've experienced. That you didn't have to be Jewish to understand what people like me have and continue to experience. That you don't have to be in the LGBTQ community to have a decent sense of the US gay experience at least since Stonewall. More and more, it seems like I've been wrong. Further, it seems like there is a lack of understanding, patience, and respect AMONG these groups towards each other, that truly have more in common that we have differences.

So, when I put forth ideals that I believe are overlooked, mis-understood, or have never been considered before, especially here in the 'wilderness' of Riverside County, this is where I'm coming from. I cannot be the only one to whom diction or word choice matters; that doesn't like something I say being stepped on or belittled. Many of us may be used to or expect trite, knee-jerk or talking-point like responses. Though, we should also be able to recognize times when a conversation or an answer to a question has gone beyond this superficial level. Although, if we don't listen (not hear but listen) with both ears, that's not possible.